MassDOT September Board Meeting

MBTA Sustainability Achievements Earn "Gold"

The American Public Transportation Association (APTA) recognized the MBTA and other organizations today for their outstanding sustainability achievements which have met specific criteria through the APTA Sustainability Commitment program. Public transit agencies and businesses that voluntarily participate in the APTA Sustainability Commitment program commit to implementing processes and actions that create continuous improvements in environmental, social, and economic sustainability. Depending on the level of achievement, organizations were presented Gold, Silver, and Bronze level certifications at the APTA Sustainability and Public Transportation Workshop which is being held in Boston. The MBTA received Gold Level recognition.

Boston: Morton Street "Heavy Lift" Bridge Installation

MassDOT announced the installation of the new Morton Street Bridge in Mattapan will begin tonight, Friday, August 8.
MassDOT will close the Morton Street Bridge for the final demolition and installation of the new bridge. The bridge will close for the move at 9:00 PM on Friday August 8, and will reopen at or before 5:00 AM Monday August 18. The new bridge structure will be moved into place this weekend.

During the bridge closure period, general traffic and MBTA Bus Routes 21 and 26 will be detoured. MBTA Fairmount Commuter Rail will operate normally except for late Friday night August 8, when Train Nos. 779, 780, 781, and 782 will be replaced with shuttle buses. A fully accessible pedestrian crossing will be in place while the bridge is closed.

MassDOT's Highway Division constructed a new single span bridge to replace the structurally deficient bridge carrying Morton Street across the MBTA Commuter Rail Tracks in Mattapan. MassDOT used Accelerated Bridge Construction methods to minimize construction impacts. The new bridge structure has been constructed adjacent to the crossing and will be moved into place in one piece.

MassDOT also used Accelerated Bridge Construction and “heavy lift” methods in 2012 to replace the River Street Bridge crossing over the MBTA and CSX railroad tracks in Hyde Park, in addition to previous “heavy lift” bridge projects in Phillipston and Wellesley. During the work, heavy-lifting machines called Self-Propelled Modular Transporters lift the new superstructure from its supports to its final destination and lower it into position.

Governor Patrick Celebrates Beverly Commuter Rail Parking

Governor Deval Patrick joined state and local officials, residents and business owners to celebrate the opening of the new Beverly Commuter Rail parking garage.

"When we partner with cities and towns by investing in local infrastructure, we support economic growth and we strengthen communities where residents can live, work and play," said Governor Patrick. "Through this funding, we are paving the way for future opportunities that will advance economic development in Beverly and help build a brighter future for the Commonwealth."

The new garage adds an additional 500 new parking spaces to one of the state’s busiest Commuter Rail stations, which serves over 2,000 Boston-bound customers on an average weekday, and makes the station fully handicap accessible, with multiple accessible spaces on each level of the garage, new elevators and a covered accessible walkway from the garage to the existing Beverly Depot platform.

The garage features sustainable and environmentally-friendly elements including photovoltaic solar panels; electric vehicle charging stations; a “snowmelter” on its roof that will allow for snow to be melted on-site instead of being removed by plows and a lighting system designed to utilize natural daylight, energy-efficient lighting and energy-saving lighting controls.

The garage also includes multi-modal transit features such as an enclosed "Pedal & Park" bike storage area with capacity for 48 bikes and Zipcar® services on-site.

"The MBTA has been working diligently to increase accessibility to our services across the system," said MBTA General Manager Dr. Beverly Scott. "This garage represents a great improvement in access – through convenience as well as compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act – for residents of Beverly and visitors alike."

The garage structure is designed to support four levels of future development on top of its structure and is set back from Rantoul Street 85 feet to allow for future street front development. Patrons of local businesses may also utilize the garage for parking. A new garage is also set to open at the Salem Commuter Rail station this fall, further improving transportation options on the North Shore.

Chelsea: Silver Line Gateway Project Meeting Set

The Silver Line Gateway project will extend Bus Rapid Transit service into Chelsea and East Boston from Boston’s Seaport District. The new service will make stops at Airport Station on the Blue Line and four new stations in Chelsea before terminating at Mystic Mall. A Public Information Meeting on the project has been scheduled as follows:

MassDOT has completed the first phase of the project, which evaluated several potential route options. Silver Line Gateway will now advance to the construction phase, with a planned construction start date of December 2014 or January 2015. Since Silver Line Gateway uses a combination of roadway and railroad right-of-way throughout the new route, the construction will be managed in two parts. In addition to the Silver Line itself, the project scope includes replacing the Washington Avenue Bridge, relocating and rebuilding the Chelsea Commuter Rail Station and creating a shared-use path to connect Eastern Avenue and downtown Chelsea.

We invite you to attend this meeting to learn more information about the construction process and schedule, ask questions or submit comments. Please visit the Silver Line Gateway project website for more information and to sign up for email alerts.